I threw common sense and caution to the wind, will these arrive?

Anyone love a good mystery? I have these coming from Lebanon, had to pay via Western Union. I took all the risk just to have these, bought the last two sets they had, the 27 sized version.
They were shipped today, fingers crossed!

 

Nice looking set. Here's hoping they make it to you.

 

Thank you @The Warrior, I asked for a photo from his phone of the product instead of just a product shot from Trangia. Here's what he sent:

 

Good luck. If the sale goes south, no way to recover funds. Online sale, evilbay?
Duane

 

@hikerduane it is an Internet web store site. Definitely not a purchase I would have ordinarily made, but I think there are some safeguards with the credit card I used. Western Union has some safeguards.
I had to make a tough choice whether to have trust and go forward or decline and keep hoping someone will sell theirs as I cannot find them anywhere except for this seller, who no longer has any on his site upon selling to me.
It's in the shipper's hands now.

 

I had no idea Wester Union was still in business. Great find

 

Thank you @CW. This was my first time ever using Western Union.

Although there were red flags up at first, I do feel confident they will arrive. If not, I'm going to have a lot of egg on my face. I went into it with my eyes wide open.

 

Nothing wrong with rolling the dice, when you know you're rolling the dice.

Best of luck.

 

Thank you @Marc, doing a little 7 come 11 for sure! I suppose this purchase appealed to the gambler in me.

 

Just as an FYI, shipping to US via airmail from Lebanon for a package weighing 4 pounds is not cheap. Here were my shipping options:

1. Aramex :120$+ customs origin fees on the receiver .
2. Dhl express: 250$ +customs origin fees on the receiver.
3. Ups express:200$ + customs origin fees on the receiver.
4. Transworld Marine Company: 180$ + customs origin fees on the receiver.
5. ABC Shipping:210$ + customs origin fees on the receiver.
6. Vertex delivery:200$ +customs origin fees on the receiver.

I picked Aramex, the sets have left Lebanon and made a quick stop in Dubai for sorting.

 

Wow, that's crazy. Like everything else I guess, prices have gone up.

 

I knew it was going to be high on the shipping because I recently shipped a couple of pounds item to Canada and the shipping was $40. I shipped something to North Macedonia a couple of years ago and shipping was $60+

 

Jeez. I can't recall ever shipping anything internationally.

 

@The Warrior I always worry when I ship out of country, not even sure why as everything has arrived to its destination. Things get held up in customs for days, even a week or two sometimes though.

 

There were a few things you could do to protect yourself but the most reliable is thinking "I can afford to take the risk" If the price was very good including freight then the prize could well be worth the risk.

 

I import internationally a few times per week for work.

We use DHL almost exclusively, because they have the fewest customs issues.

 

I had put a Want To Buy ad here (since taken down) and at another site where I offered $400 for one set complete in box. No one wanted to part with theirs and I understand that.

I was able to buy these for $120 each and $120 shipping so $360 total for two sets should it all work out.

As for affording to take the risk, I do dislike losing money, but I felt it was worth the risk for these.

DHL is expensive and it's understandable when they have fewer customs issues.

I was noticing that while the items were in Dubai, Aramex has handed off the package to UPS and now I have a UPS Express Saver tracking number.

 

@lisantica ,

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, and hope the seller is legitimate. May your Trangia set arrive, safe and sound, and may it be everything the seller told you it was!! Good luck, and God Bless!

Sincerely,
Doc

 

@Doc Mark, thank you. It is two sets. I do have full faith they will arrive...of course there is always that little niggle of doubt, but I try to push it away.
Should it all work out, it will be my most exciting purchase from the furthest away country I've ever purchased from.

 

UPS site is now showing a Thursday, Oct. 27th delivery date!